Product Description
Written for the gifted math student, the new math coach, the teacher in search of problems and materials to challenge exceptional students, or anyone else interested in advanced mathematical problems.Competition Math contains over 700 examples and problems in the areas of Algebra, Counting, Probability, Number Theory, and Geometry.Examples and full solutions present clear concepts and provide helpful tips and tricks."I wish I had a book like this when I started my competition career."Four-Time National Champion MATHCOUNTS coach Jeff Boyd"This book is full of juicy questions and ideas that will enable the reader to excel in MATHCOUNTS and AMC competitions.I recommend it to any students who aspire to be great problem solvers." Former AHSME Committee Chairman Harold Reiter ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Good Book
This is a very good book for middle schoolers who are looking to learn more math and want to be challenged.

This is my son's first math book - other than his school text books. The concepts are taught by working through the example problems. The problems in the book are generally tougher and more advanced than the ones in the middle school text books. He finished the book this summer and he loved working through the problems on his own. Kids need to be challenged and taught to think on their own. This book helped him do that.

Excellent Book
We bought this for my son to help him study for the Math Counts competition - and just as a resource to supplement his math curriculum.He loved the book and found it VERY helpful.Would highly recommend it.

Excellent competition math book
I use this book as a supplement to my daughter's school math. I like this book because it explains how simple mathematical conceptscan be applied in competition level. This book provides with many practice questionsthat students can practice until they get familiar with similar questions. My daughter is smartbut sometimes, can be scared of these competition math questions. This book is not too difficult that both average and smart students can learn from it. The explanation is simple but comprehensive. This book is not filled with those arrogant questions that can make kids feel defeatism in math. I gave the questions in the probability section to my daughter after she learned probability at the school. She learned how school math can be expanded and applied to the competition level from this book. Not all kids who are interested in math are genius. This book is for those students. I highly recommend this book.

Phenomenal resource for math competition coaches and students
I am a middle school math team coach constantly looking for good material to use with my students, as well as books that can teach me some better ways to work through the problems.This book gives me both, and I am ordering more for my math team because of it.Each concept is organized by larger topic and explained clearly, with practice problems similar to what you would find in a Math Counts or AMC contest.You will learn some new tricks (they were new to me at least) that helps solve problems much more quickly.I recommend it to new coaches who have caught the math competition bug but don't know where to get materials, or even experienced coaches who want another outstanding resource for their library.For someone still trying to learn all of the ins and outs of middle school math contests, this has vaulted into a spot as one of my go-to resources, along with the Art of Problem Solving series and old Math Counts problems.

An Excellent Book!
This is an impressive collection of competition math problems that are explained very well! The book addresses multiple levels of ability and is a wonderful source of interesting mathematics. As a high school math coach of many years I can say that this book is NOT just for Middle School! It's a great high school math book. Math teachers everywhere need to be challenging students to think. "Competition Math for Middle School" is just what they need. I recommend this book to math teachers teaching everything from Algebra 1 to Calculus. Topics in the book include Number Theory, Geometry and Combinatorics. It's a treat! ... Read more

Product Description

Although there were some older contests in the Maritime region and in Lower and Upper Canada, the Alberta High School Mathematics Competition was the first and oldest in Canada to be run on a provincial scale. Started in 1957, the competition recently celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. These fifty years can be broken down to three periods, Ancient (1957-1966), Medieval (1967-1983) and Modern (1984-2006), with very distinctive flavors which reflect what was taught in the schools of the day. The first two periods are primarily of historical interest. During the Modern period, the talented problem committee was led by the world renown problemist Murray Klamkin, and composed many innovative and challenging problems.

In this book you will find all the problems and answers for the first fifty years of the competition, up to 2005/2006 and full solutions are provided to those from the Modern period, often supplemented with multiple solutions or additional commentaries. Taken together, this unique collection of problems represent an interesting and valuable resource for students today preparing for these types of mathematics contests.

The Alberta High School Mathematics Competitions 1957-2006: A Canadian Problem Book is published by the Mathematical Association of America (MAA) in collaboration with the Canadian Mathematical Society (CMS). It is the second volume in The Canadian Collection.

Product Description
Each summer six math whizzes selected from nearly a half-million American teens compete against the world"s best problem solvers at the International Mathematical Olympiad. Steve Olson followed the six 2001 contestants from the intense tryouts to the Olympiad"s nail-biting final rounds to discover not only what drives these extraordinary kids but what makes them both unique and typical. In the process he provides fascinating insights into the science of intelligence and learning and, finally, the nature of genius.
Brilliant, but defying all the math-nerd stereotypes, these teens want to excel in whatever piques their curiosity, and they are curious about almost everything — music, games, politics, sports, literature. One team member is ardent about both water polo and creative writing.Another plays four musical instruments. For fun and entertainment during breaks, the Olympians invent games of mind-boggling difficulty. Though driven by the glory of winning this ultimate math contest, they are in many ways not so different from other teenagers, finding pure joy in indulging their personal passions.
Beyond the the Olympiad, Olson sheds light on many questions, from why Americans feel so queasy about math, to why so few girls compete in the subject, to whether or not talent is innate. Inside the cavernous gym where the competition takes place, Count Down uncovers a fascinating subculture and its engaging, driven inhabitants. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (23)

brilliant young mathematicians compete for intellectual glory
Count Down is really the story of the International Math Olympiad, which invites the world's best high school mathematicians to compete for individual and national pride. Traditionally, Bulgaria, China and other Eastern European nations (esp. the former Soviet Union) dominate, with the U.S. always doing quite well with its unusually male, Asian, and first generation composition.

In the entire history of the competition, no nation has had an even number of male and female competitors, despite the increasing numbers of women studying advanced mathematics in high school. On the U.S. team, only one girl has even represented the U.S. team of six. Explanations as to why there are so few women in elite-level mathematics competitions are unconvincing. The author does better trying to explain the Chinese and Eastern European dominance. Their culture fosters creativity and excellence in mathematics, ours shuns it well into high school and college. Even the U.S. representatives to the Olympiad admit being somewhat embarrassed about competing, something that would be almost unimaginable in Russia or Bulgaria.

Olson does a fair job trying to explain solutions to the six problems given at the Olympiad. Those are not math-inclined will have to work hard to understand the solution and may still not understand. Every country, every teammate gets the same six problems. Individual scores are tabulated in addition to composites, which factor into each nation's rank. A perfect score on the test is 42, with 7 points awarded for each correct solution.

My sole gripe is that the author did not get into the heads of the competitors from around the world. Although he detests the term, some of them really are genius. Even with great parenting, great schools, hard work and motivation--there is no clear explanation as to how these kids easily figure out solutions to some truly mind-boggling problems. An example is provided:

"Twenty-one girls and twenty-one boys took part in a mathematical competition. It turned out that (a) each contestant solved at most six problems, and (b) for each pair of a girl and a boy, there was at least one problem that was solved by both the girl and the boy. Prove that there was a problem that was solved by at least three girls and at least three boys."

If you can prove it, you too deserve to medal in the math Olympiad!

presentation of mathematics as a creative and exciting endeavor
Countdown presents the competitive world of the Mathematical Olympiad in a manner that shows well the incredible mathematical aptitude of the contestants. At the same time, the author takes pains to present the budding mathematicians as well rounded individuals who are not at all like the stereotypical geek. The author argues that mathematics at the level of the Mathematical Olympiad is more of a creative endeavor than a rigid formula based effort. Although mostly about the contestants themselves, the author also presents biographies of some of the coaches, considering, especially, their approach to teaching, which seems to involve short presentations of theory followed by long problem solving sessions. This is a really good book to give to someone who is interested in mathematics.

Competitive math
A few years ago, the movie Spellbound gave viewers insight into the world of spelling bees, culminating in the National championship.Since then, I've noticed other competitions getting similar treatments, such as bowling (in The League of Ordinary Gentlemen) and crossword puzzles (Word Play).Although it is a book and not a movie, Steve Olson's Count Down fits right into this genre of the competition documentary.

Count Down deals with the International Mathematical Olympiad, in which high school level students from around the world gather together to solve difficult math problems.How difficult?The first problem they are given reads:"In acute triangle ABC with circumcenter O and altitude AP, angle C is greater than or equal to angle B plus 30 degrees.Prove that angle A plus angle COP is less than 90 degrees."This is the easiest of the six questions the Math Olympians must solve.

Perhaps coincidentally, there also six members in the U.S. team, so Olson dedicates one chapter to each member and his approach to a problem (it is an all male team).It is like going from Los Angeles to New York by car:there are a number of different routes, each with its pluses and minuses.Similarly, these math problems can be solved a number of different ways.

Olson goes beyond the Olympiad itself, however, using it as a launching pad for discussions on topics regarding math education.One key theme that runs through Count Down is how Americans look down on math, often treating those who are good at it with scorns and letting people think that being bad at math is okay.This is contrasted with other countries where math is considered much more valuable.The problem is not merely with the education system but the culture itself.

Other topics include the nature of genius and the effects of environment versus genetics.Are boys naturally better than girls at math (which is to say, more genetically inclined), or is it cultural issues that creates a disparity between the genders? (As Olson notes, in the decades of American participation in the Olympiad, boys have outnumbered girls 118 to 1.)Is it even possible to truly separate the two?Can the abilities that these teenagers have be taught to others?

Olson keeps the math rather simple so even the mathematical layperson should be able to understand all that's going on.If you enjoy math, this is a recommended read.If you don't enjoy math, this is a must read:it will help show why mathematical skill is not merely nice but is essential.

Too much filler
CD is two books in one, one interesting, the other pedestrian.The interesting book includes: profiles of participants in the 2001 IMO + some description of the IMO itself + partial solutions of the IMO problems.The pedestrian book includes: lengthy digressions on the topic of genius/talent.CD weaves back and forth between both books.The result: a greatly short-changed book one.Profiles could have been much longer/deeper; the event could have been described in greater and more interesting detail; solutions (relegated to Appendices) could have been complete.The contents of book two read like an extended (fragmentary) book report.The topic of genius/talent has been ably treated elsewhere in the literature.All of book two, considerably compressed, would far better have served to introduce a much expanded book one.

CD reads well enough; it does provide a couple hours' entertainment.It could have been so much more.

Good overview of competitive mathematics (and mathematics in general)
"Count Down" is a well-written and concise profile of the International Mathematical Olympiad and, more broadly, the field of mathematics.While the book offers an engaging overview of the Olympiad, its real strength is in its coverage of the individuals underlying the contest.

Steve Olson provides readers with an insightful and unique perspective on what type of person and abilities it takes to become a part of a Mathematical Olympiad team.Moreover, the book challenges the reader with facts and anecdotes related to the roles "nature" and "nurture" play in the evolution of traits such as creativity. ... Read more

Product Description
This digital document is an article from Practical Homeschooling, published by Home Life, Inc. on September 1, 2000. The length of the article is 2791 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Think Math contests! (You Need To Know).(Mathcounts math competition)
Author: Howard Richman
Publication: Practical Homeschooling (Magazine/Journal)
Date: September 1, 2000
Publisher: Home Life, Inc.
Page: 28

Distributed by Thomson Gale ... Read more

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over 365 Math Problems and full solutions for Students in Grades, 7,8 and 9 ... Read more

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This book contains the problems and solutions of two contests: the Chinese National High School Competition from 198182 to 199293, and the Chinese Mathematical Olympiad from 198586 to 199293.China has an outstanding record in the International Mathematical Olympiad, and the book contains the problems which were used to identify the team candidates and select the Chinese teams. The problems are meticulously constructed, many with distinctive flavour. They come in all levels of difficulty, from the relatively basic to the most challenging. ... Read more

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The Hungary-Israel Mathematics Competition commenced in 1990 when diplomatic relations between the two countries were in their infancy.This 181 page book summarizes the first 12 years of the competition (1990 to 2001) and includes the problems and complete solutions.The book is directed at mathematics lovers, problem solving enthusiasts and students who wish to improve their competition skills. No special or advanced knowledge is required beyond that of the typical IMO contestant and the book includes a glossary explaining the terms and theorems which are not standard that have been used in the book. ... Read more

Product Description
This book is a continuation of the earlier volume (1981-1993) and covers the years 1993 to 2001.China has an outstanding record in the International Mathematical Olympiad, and the book contains the problems which were used to identify the team candidates and select the Chinese teams. The problems are meticulously constructed, many with distinctive flavour. They come in all levels of difficulty, from the relatively basic to the most challenging. ... Read more